Toy rifle.



J. R. SANDAGE.

TOY RIFLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. I916.

Patented May15, 1917.

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JACOB B. SANDAGE, OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, TO UPTON MACHINECOM- PANY, OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

TOY RIFLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1917.

Application filed May 5, 1916. Serial No. 95,546.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jaooe R. SANDAGE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of St. Joseph, in the county of Berrien and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ToyRifles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact de scription thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the reference characters marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in toy rifles, and moreparticularly to spring actuated toy rifles of the repeating type, havinga projectile containing magazine and automatic reloading and springsetting devices, and resembling, in its general features of constructionand operation, the socalled pump gun, known in the art of explosivefirearms.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide, in connection withthe reloading and trigger mechanism of the gun, a safety locking devicedesigned to lock the trigger to prevent the discharging of the gun untilthe reloading and spring setting operations have been properly completedand the several parts restored to the proper positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means foryieldingly re taining the projectiles within the magazine and thebarrel, and toprevent the projectiles from being discharged therefrom bygravity.

The purposes and construction of the improved features mentioned will beclearly understood from the description which follows, taken inconnection with the illustrations thereof, appearing in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section takenthrough the rifle, a portion of the stock thereof being removed;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view, partially in section, showing theparts of the trigger and reloading mechanism in locked position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the same parts in positionfor discharging, the trigger locking device being shown in unlockedposition;

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section, on line 4.-4t of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail cross-sectional View, taken on line 55 of Fig. 2; and7 taken Fig. 6 is a detail crosssectional view, taken on line 66 of Fig.1.

Referring to the general features of construction of the rifle, the samecomprises a stock 10, a barrel 11, anda magazine 12 integral with andextending throughout the for ard end of the barrel immediately below thesame, said magazine being adapted to receive and contain a plurality ofspherical projectiles or balls 13 of wood, cork, or like material. Theremaining parts of the ride consist of a projectile-impelling spring 14:mounted within a cylindric housing 15 immediately below the rear endportion of the barrel, a reloading and spring setting member 16intermediate the magazine and the spring 14, a suitable trigger, and thetrigger locking device, all of which will be hereinafter described indetail.

The barrel 11, magazine 12, and spring housing 15 are preferablyintegral with each other, being 'formed of sheet material bent to formcylindrical chambers arranged adjacent to each other, the margins of thesheet material preferably terminating in abutting relation along thelower surface of the magazine, as shown in Fig. 6. The magazine 12 andhousing 15 are located at the forward and rear ends, respectively, ofthe barrel, and are separated by a space extending throughout thecentral portion of the barrel and wherein is located the reloadingplunger, as hereinafter described. The stock is provided with a suitabledepression to receive the housing and adjacent partsof the barrel. Thebarrel communicates with the magazine by means of a passage or opening17 located intermediate the ends of the barrel and adjacent to the rearend of the magazine 12. said opening being provided to permit theprojectiles to enter the barrel. At the extreme rear end of the magazineand immediately rearward of the opening 17 is provided an upright tongue18,.rigidly held in position intermediate the side walls of themagazine, said tongue being provided at its forward end with an inclinedmargin 18, said margin being inclined downwardly and toward the forwardend of the magazine at an angle of substantially 45, the lower end ofthe inclined margin being located immediately below the rearward end ofthe opening 17. At the rear of the barrel and immediately below the sameis a cylindrical chamber or housing 15, formed in the same manner as themagazine 12 and which is mounted within a cylindrical groove formed inthe stock 10, the rear end of said housing projecting slightly beyondthe barrel and embedded in the material of the stock. The housing 15contains the projectile-impelling spring 14, as before mentioned, whichbears at its rear end against the material of thestock 10 and whenfully-expanded, as shown in Fig. 1, extends forwardly to a point spaceda short distance rearwardly from the forward end of said housing. Theforward end of the spring is bent upwardly to provide a stem 19, whichprojects into the barrel 11 through a slot 20 (Fig. 1) extendingthroughout the length of the housing 15 and between said housing and thebarrel 11. The stem 19 of the spring is preferably provided with alooped extremity 19 adapted to contact with the projectiles, when thesame are placed in the barrel in position for being dischargedtherefrom, as shown in Fig. 3. Intermediate the housing 15 and themagazine 12 is mounted the reloading plunger or rod 16 arranged in axialalinement with the magazine 12 and spring 14 and adapted to be movedendwise with a reciprocating movement. The plunger extends into and issupported at .its forward end within the rear portion of the magazine12, the forward end 21 thereof being provided throughout its length witha vertical slot adapted to receive the tongue 18, which is thusstraddled bysaid forward end portion of the plunger. The forward endportion 21 is further providedwith an inclined or beveled end surfaceslightly concave in contour and arranged substantially parallel to theinclined edge of the tongue 18. The inclined surfaces or margins of theplunger 16 and tongue 18 cooperate to project the projectiles 13'upwardly through the opening 17 and into the barrel 11,- in a mannerhereinafter to be described. The rear end portion 22 of the reloadingplunger 16 is mounted within the housing 15 andv is adapted to engagethe spring 14 at its forward end, to compress said spring, in theendwise movement of said plunger. Intermediate the end portions of thereloading plunger 16 is preferably provided a hand grip 23, the samehaving a grooved or otherwise roughened surface, said hand grip beingadapted to be grasped by the user to manipulate the plunger and,further, acting as a stop to limit the movement of the plunger withinthe space separating the forward and rear ends of the housing and themagazine, respectively, in the act of reloading and. cocking the rifle,in a manner hereinafter to be described.

Formed in the material of the stock and located below the housing 15intermediate its ends is a vertical cavity 24 opening downwardly'through the under surface of the curves downwardly about the triggerfinger and is secured to the under surface of the stock 10 in anysuitable manner.

Referring now more in detail to the trigger mechanism and to itsconnection with the reloading mechanism and locking device, there isprovided at the extremity of the horizontal arm 25' a head 28, whichforms a rearwardly facing shoulder or catch, said head being swungvertically in the movement of the trigger and upwardly through a slotextending along the lower surface of the housing 15, said head thusprojecting into the path of movement of the spring let for the purposeof engaging the forward end of the spring, when it has been compressedor forced rearwardly by the reloading plunger to a position rearwardlyof said head. A small coil spring 29 is mounted in vertical positionbeneath the horizontal arm 25 of the trigger, and acts to force the armand head upwardly into position to engage the forward end of the springand to retain the same under compression after the reloading plunger hasbeen removed. A washer is preferably provided at the forward end of thespring for the purpose of securing more effective engagement between thehead of the trigger and the forward end of the spring.-

Before describing the details of construction of the locking device, itwill be well at this time to set forth the manner of reloading andcooking the rifle and the manner in which the parts operate inaccomplishing these functions. As shown in Fig. 1, the parts are in theposition which they occupy immediately after the gun has beendischarged. The plunger rod 1s in its forward or normal position withthe grip 23 thereof the" plunger rearward with a quiclrm V ment toitsfullest extent, namely, until the grip 23 engages the forward end ofthe housing 15, as shown in Fig. 2, and in like manner move the plungerforward again to its original position. The rearward movement of theplunger forces the spring rearwardly, and compresses the same, the stemor forward portion of the spring being moved a slight distancerearwardly of the head 28 of the trigger, thus permitting the same tomove upwardly and engage the washer 30, and to thereby effect theretention of said spring. The rearward movement of the reloading plungeralso permits one of the projectiles 13 to roll rearwardly and intocontact with the inclined edge of the tongue and to occupy a positionimmediately below the opening 17. Upon the forward movement of thereloading plunger, the beveled end thereof passes beneath theprojectile, and the same is moved or forced upwardly through the opening17 and into the barrel l1, whereupon it rolls or is impelled by gravitytoward the rear end of the barrel until it engages the retaining means,hereinafter to be described, and held in position immediately forward ofand in contact with the stem 19 of the spring 14, as shown in Fig. 3. Itis desirable, for the reason that the projectiles are not positivelyactuated during the reloading operation, but are impelled by gravity,that the rifle be held, during the reloading operation, in a vertical orupwardly inclined position with the forward end or muzzle of the barrelelevated above the rear thereof. The inclination of the barrel is offurther assistance in the reloading operation, in that the projectilesin coming into contact with the inclined edge of the tongue 18 have atendency to roll upwardly along the same, thus permitting the beveledend of the plunger to pass beneath and propel the same through theopening 17.

Referring now to the locking device, the same comprises a locking memberin the form of a flat strip of metal 31 substantially equal in length tothe distance from the head 28 of the trigger to the forward end of thehousing 15, said strip being mounted within a groove or slot 32 formedin the stock 10 and extending parallel to -vand immediately below thatportion of thehousing 15 intermediate the trigger and the forward end ofsaid housing. The locking member 31 is adapted to be moved endwisethrough a short distance, the same being actuated by the reloadingplunger 16 in the endwisc movement thereof and through the medium of aconnection between said members, which may be described as follows: There loading plunger 16 is provided throughout the rear end portion 22,with a slot 33 ex tending transversely of the plunger and formingrearwardly and forwardly facing shoulders 34 and 35, said shouldersbeing spaced apart a distance slightly less than the throw or path ofmovement of the plunger.

the plunger 16, the locking member being in the position which it willoccupy when said plungeris moved rearward to its fullest extent. In thisposition of the locking member the rear end thereof projects beneath thehead 28 of the trigger and into a notch 37 (Fig. 3) preferably providedin the under surface of said head. It is apparent that the presence ofthe rear end of the locking member beneath the locking head prevents thedownward movement of the arm 25 of the trigger, and hence prevents themanipulation of the trigger to release the spring from retention by saidhead of the trigger. Upon moving the plunger to its forward or normalposition the projection 36 of the locking member is engaged by theshoulder 35 adjacent to the rear end of the plunger 16, this engagementeffecting the forward movement of the locking member a distancesufficient to remove the same from beneath the head of the trigger,thereby unlocking the trigger so that it may be pressed in the usualmanner to release the spring and impel the projectile from the barrel.The purpose of the locking member will be seen from the following.Referring to Fig. 2, itis ap parent that the plunger is held or allowedto remain at the position it occupies after it is movedrearward to setthe spring, that is, directly in the path of movement of the spring, andhence, in the absence of any means for locking the trigger and upon theaccidental or inadvertent releasing of the spring by the pressing of thetrigger, the plunger would be thrown forward with great force under theaction of the spring and against the rear end of the magazine.Therefore, unless locking means is provided to prevent the releasing ofthe spring under the conditions indicated, caution must be eX-- ercisedto push the plunger rod forward to its normal position, therebycompleting the operation of reloading the gun, before the same is fired.The purpose of the locking member is, therefore, to lock the trigger,until the plunger has been moved forward to complete the reloadingoperation and entirely removed from the path of movement of the spring,so that no injury will arise by reason of the plungefbeing thrownforwardly by the spring. Inasmuch as devices of this kind are made forthe use of children, it isdesirable to have a locking device whichoperates automatically to prevent the discharge of the gun when the sameis not properly loaded or the parts not in proper positions. For thisreason, a gun constructed in the manner described is safer and lessliable to injure or be injured than are the guns of this type in whichno safety device is employed.

The further improved feature of my invention resides in theprojectile-retaining device, hereinbefore referred to. This device isutilized for two purposes, namely, to engage and retain the projectilewithin the barrel and in position for being propelled therefrom, andalso to permit the introduction of the projectile into the magazine andat the same time prevent the same from rolling out of the magazine whenthe gun is inclined downwardly. Referring to the first form ofprojectile-retaining means, the same is formed by providing, atdiametrically opposed points in the barrel 11, two elongated depressions38, 38 in the outer surface and extending longitudinally thereof,adjacent to the rear end of the barrel and throughout the portionthereof occupied by a projectile when in position for being discharged.These depressions 38 (Fig. 5), being formed by pressing the metal of-thebarrel inwardly, form complementary projections on the inner surface ofthe barrel, which act to restrict the passage of the projectiles throughthat portion of the barrel. As shown in Fig. 5, the depressions andlikewise the projections formed thereby are tapered or inclined inwardlytoward'the axis of the barrel and from the forward to the rear of thebarrel. Thus, when a projectile 13 is introduced into the barrel androlls rearwardly, as hereinbefore described, the same will come incontact with the projections formed by said depressions, and will begradually brought to a stationary position by its contact with theinclined surfaces of said projections, and will be yieldingly heldthereby. By forming the projections in the form of tapered, elongatedsurfaces, the projectiles are not only brought to rest gradually andyieldingly held, but it allows for slight discrepancies in the shape andsize of the projectiles used, so that all projectiles will be retardedand retained in 7 by pressing the metal inwardly at diametricallyopposed points, in the same manner as before described in connectionwith the retaining means of the barrel. The projections in this instanceare not elongated, but are in the form of projecting points. Theseprojections cooperate in the following manner to permit theintroductionof the pro jectile and at the same time prevent the same from rollingoutwardly from said opening. When a projectile is introduced into theopening, the same will come in contact with the projections 39, whichtend to oppose the entrance of the same. The pressure of the projectileagainst the projections will tend to force the side walls of themagazine apart, and, in view of the fact that the metal is more or lessflexible and that the walls. of the magazine are not connected along thelower surface, the walls of the magazine will be forced apart asuflicient distance to allow the projectile to pass beyond theprojections 39 and into the magazine. After the projectile has passedthe projections, the end of the magazine will again assume its normalposition, thus closing the entrance to the magazine, to the escape ofthe projectiles therefrom. The forms of projectile-retaining meansherein described and illustrated require only the pressing of the metalof the barrel or magazine inwardly to provide the projections, anoperation which is accomplished, in the forming of the barrel andmagazine, by a slight change in the dies used in the form of the saidbarrel and magazine and without the use of additional parts orexpenditure of time in the assembling of the rifle.

The several features of the device may obviously be modified as todetails of construction, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. Therefore I do not Wish to be limited to the constructionherein illus-' trated and described, except in so far as set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A toy rifle, comprising a barrel, a projectile-impelling springassociated with said barrel, a manually operable member, movable in onedirection to set said spring and in the opposite direction to be movedbeyond the path ofmovement of said spring, a trigger adapted, to retainsaid spring in set position and to release the same, and a lockingmember actuated by said endwise movable member into and out of lockingengagement with said trigger, in the movement of said movable memberinto and beyond the path of movement of said spring.

. 2. A toy rifle, comprising a barrel, a proalinement'with said springand movable, endwise wlth a reciprocating movement to compress saidspring and to be withdrawn beyond the path of movement thereof, a

trigger adapted to engage and retain said sprlng in compressed position,and an end w1se movable locking-member located adjaspring, and a lockingmember arrangedparab lel to said plunger and adjacent to the path ofmovement thereof, said locking member and plunger being provided withcoacting members adapted to move said locking member into lockingengagement with said trigger during the compression oi said spring andout of locking engagement with said trig er during the movement of saidplunger eyond the path of movement of said spring.

4. A toy rifle, comprising a barrel, a proj ectile-impelling springassociated With said barrel, a trigger including a head movabletransversely to said spring and adapted to retain the same in compressedposition, a plunger in axial alinement with said spring adapted to bemoved in one direction to compress said spring and in the oppositedirection beyond the path of movement of said spring, and a lockingmember comprising an endwise movable strip located adja cent the path ofmovement of said spring and provided at one end with a projectionextending into the path of movement of said plunger, the latter beingprovided with shoulders spaced apart and adapted to en gage saidprojection of the locking member to move the same into and out oflocking engagement with said trigger.

5. A toy rifle, comprising a barrel, a projectile-impelling springassociated with said barrel, a trigger including a head movabletransversely into and out of the path oi movement of said spring toengage and release the same in compressed position, a plunger in axialalinement with said spring, adapted to be moved in one direction tocompress said spring and in the opposite direction beyond the path ofmovement of said spring, and a locking member comprising an endwisemovable strip located adjacent the path of movement of said spring andprovided at one end with a projection extending into the path ofmovement of said plunger, the latter being provided with shouldersspaced apart, adapted to engage said projection of the locking member tomove the same a relatively short distance into a position to engage thehead of said trigger during the movement of said plunger in a directionto compress said spring, and to move said locking member out ofengagement with said head in the movement of said plunger in theopposite direction.

6. A toy rifle, comprising a tubular metal barrel, aprojectile-impelling spring associated with said barrel, and means foryieldingly retaining a projectile in position to be engaged by saidspring, comprising projections extending longitudinally of said barreland in the path of movement of said spring, said projectionsbeinginclined with respect to the barrel and formed by pressing themetal of the barrel inwardly from the exterior thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, 1 aiiix mysignature in the presence of two witnesses, this 4th day of Apr., A. D.1916.

JACOB R. SANDAGE.

Witnesses:

ALLin WHITE, L. O. UPTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

